Ecological Description (Applied Ecological Services, Inc. 1997)

These properties are contiguous with each other and will be presented together. This site occupies an extensive reach of poorly drained soils associated with the Bull Creek floodplain. Portions of the property become seasonally inundated. The western half of this site consists of old bean fields to the north, which are now in the process of being restored, and cattail and reed canary grass wetland, with remnant wet prairie/sedge meadow communities occurring peripherally. Recently developed woodlands of mature cottonwood, elm, silver maple, and willow occur throughout this portion. The east end is an abandoned tree and shrub nursery, much like the Meling parcel in the Route 45 site. This cover type poses a special management problem as much of the non-native nursery stock is maturing into dense stands, with some species, such as privet, invading between the rows along with buckthorn and honeysuckle. Restoration efforts would likely be costly. The wetlands of these parcels are contiguous with extensive wetlands to the east along Bull Creek, and present an opportunity to restore a significant area to high quality wetland habitat.